On Saturday 26th January I headed for Patchway Judo Club to take part in my first Bristol County training session, run by Sensei Chris Mockridge expertly supported by Tora Judo Kai's very own Sensei Rebecca Maslen.
It was great to see some friendly faces from our own club as I arrived – Mark and Judy Maslen, Steve Chappell, and our British Championship medalists fresh from the rostrum, Renz Vallejera and Natasha Maslen. Following a surprising amount of man hugging evident in the foyer, training began with a warm up and some uchikomi-inspired drills.
Teaching began with a chance to practice everyone's preferred combinations with some great guidance from Chris Mockridge, reminding us that what we're taught in the grading syllabus is the same as what everyone else learns too, so a bit of ingenuity is a good thing. Some ground work gave the opportunity to work with a variety of different partners.
The session finished with a standing randori session in which I gave my breakfalls a good work out, and which reminded me once again of the need for relaxed arms, plenty of movement and not allowing your partner to get their favourite grip! The training session finished with a round-up from Sensei Mockridge of the impressive number of judoka present who had taken part in the national competition the previous weekend.
I remain astonished at, and grateful for, the opportunity that judo gives to train with and alongside people for who judo is a way of life, and those who take part at a giddying level of competition.
Judith Ogden
No comments:
Post a Comment